Jack Draper was blown away by big-serving Reilly Opelka as he exited the Miami Open in the second round.
Draper, who was playing just his third tournament since returning from a long injury layoff, went down to an inspired opponent. The 6ft 11in American fired down 25 aces and 47 winners in two tiebreak sets, winning 7-6 (3) 7-6 (0).
“Definitely some disappointment, I never like to lose, but the guy played an incredible match,” Draper told Sky Sports. “It’s a difficult one. Obviously I haven’t played a load of tennis, it’s still the very start of my comeback from my injury, so it’s going to take time.”
Draper reached the quarter-finals of Indian Wells to make a positive start to his return from eight months out due to bone bruising in his arm. The former World No 4 notched his first career win against Novak Djokovic before losing to eventual finalist Daniil Medvedev.
“I’ve just got to keep on chipping away with my team, trying to do all the right things, practising well,” said Draper, who has now slipped behind Cameron Norrie in the rankings to lose his hold on the British No 1. “The thing I’m looking forward to the most is earning the right to get momentum again.”
Katie Boulter is through to the third round, though, after opponent Clara Tauson retired early in the deciding set of their rain-hit clash.
The early stages were stop-start because of showers and, when the match did finally get going properly, Boulter was unable to take advantage of a 5-3 lead in the opening set, shouting in frustration after losing the tie-break.
The British number three then trailed 2-0 in the second set but fought back to take it and had won the first game of the third when Dane Tauson, the 17th seed, decided she could not continue because of injury and called it a day with Boulter leading 6-7 (4) 6-4 1-0.
“I actually didn’t expect it at all,” said 29-year-old Boulter. “I think the only time I saw her really struggling was that last game. I wish her the best because it’s really not nice to be injured.
“It was a complete battle. There was some ugly tennis but it’s ugly conditions as well so you’ve just got to find a way. Unfortunately she couldn’t finish but it is what it is.”
Fourth seed Coco Gauff, who was forced out of Indian Wells with injury, battled to a 3-6 6-4 6-3 victory over Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto.
Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka edged out American Ann Li 7-6 (5) 6-4 as she continued her Miami Open title defence, while Elena Rybakina defeated Yulia Putintseva 6-3 6-3.
World number one Carlos Alcaraz notched a 6-4 6-4 straight-sets victory in his first meeting with 19-year-old Joao Fonseca. He will now face Sebastian Korda in the third round.
Includes reporting from PA
